Apple plugs iTunes Ping into Twitter

Ah go on go on go on

Twitter has inked a deal with Apple to allow its service to link up to the Jobsian outfit’s Ping in iTunes.

Apple, meanwhile, is still bereft of such an agreement with Facebook, which is the more natural partner for its Ping product.

Ping has been greeted with indifference from its users since Apple bolted the social network wannabe feature into its iTunes software for the company’s ready made 10 million users.

Signing up Twitter, which has 175 million users, may give a few iTunes subscribers a nudge in Ping’s direction.

“Starting today Ping, iTunes' new social network for music, and Twitter are making it even easier for people to share music discoveries with their friends by putting Ping activity, song previews and links to purchase and download music from the iTunes Store right in their Tweets on Twitter.com,” said Twitter in a blog post.

But such an alliance would undoubtedly have been better with Facebook and its 500 million strong army of stalkers.

Apple boss Steve Jobs did try to get Facebook to hook up with Ping in September this year, but the companies couldn’t reach an agreement. But the integration was certainly planned, and Jobs even showed it off during an on-stage demonstration to highlight his eagerness for Facebook to play nice with Ping.

Meanwhile, it’s unclear how many iTunes subscribers are actually using Ping, as Apple hasn’t been forthcoming with any data about the service. ®